Gus Poyet doesn't know how his Sunderland side will keep Manchester City at bay

NO MASTER PLAN: Gus Poyet doesn't know how his side wil keep a cleansheet against Manchester City [GETTY]

For the Sunderland boss reckons the only way the visitors can avoid defeat at the Etihad Stadium tonight is by taking City on at their own game.

Despite Wes Brown being sidelined following his red card on Saturday and Argentine centre half starting his first Premier League game, Poyet won’t be instructing his side to park the bus in front of Vito Mannone’s goal.

City may have drawn a blank in their last two games but that’s asking for trouble, according to the Black Cats’ chief.

“I watched Crystal Palace lose only 1-0 at City recently and thought they did very well,” he said.

“But it’s very easy for teams like Palace and Fulham at Manchester United to go there to defend and try to break.

“They have the players to do that but we don’t.

“We have got another system that is different and for some reason, it is better away from home.”

IT'S NOT A DRESS REHEARSAL: Gus Poyet says tonight's game won't have any bearing on the Captial One Cup final [GETTY]

“I watched Crystal Palace lose only 1-0 at City recently and thought they did very wel”

Gus Poyet

Poyet insists tonight’s fixture will have little bearing on next month’s Capital One Cup final but admits a positive result could give Sunderland a psychological boost.

He added: “The final will not be on my mind but we’ll learn a lot and if our system works, I am sure it will put some things in my mind for later.”

And the Sunderland boss has no problems with Yaya Toure being available tonight after he escaped a retrospective ban after kicking out at an opponent against Norwich.

“I’m a little bit old-fashioned in terms of looking back at videos,” he said.

“What happened, happened and the referee didn’t see it. Unlucky.”

Meanwhile, he revealed striker Steven Fletcher, who is nursing an Achilles tendon injury, is on course to be fit for the Wembley clash.